Stacking apparatus having yieldable feed means



J. E. INGALLS STACKING APPARATUS HAVING YIELDABYLE FEED MEANS 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. l2. 1964 K, W&

mm. www v www w @1mm ww ug- '16, 1966 .1. E. INGALLS 3,266,799

STACKING APPARATUS HAVING YIELDABLE FEED MEANS Filed OCT.. l2, 1964 2Sheets-Sheet 2 f gf INVENTOR. Jaw: es Y /Izga'lis United States Patent O3,266,799 STACTHNG APPARATUS HAVllNG YHELDABLE FEED MEANS Eames E.Ingalls, Brooklyn, Conn., assigner to Columbia Research andManufacturing Company Enc., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Get. 12,1964, Ser. No. 403,066 12 Claims. (Cl. 271-64) This invention, which isa continuation-impart of Imy copending patent application Serial Number335,926, Jan- -ulary 6, 1964 for a Stacking Apparatusj now Patent No.3,212,774, relate-s to improvement in a stacking apparatus or the likeand more particularly to -a means for feeding articles into and throughsuch apparatus.

For example the present day high speed printing presses deliver articlessuch as flexible sheets which must lbe stacked for subsequent 'handlingand use. The feeding or such articles at a high rate of speed must bedone in a manner which will avoid interruption to the steady flow shouldthe articles tend to jam or clog up. It is therefore one object of myinvention to provide a means for receiving and advancing such iarticleswithout jamming in a stacking apparatus. As a specic exa-mple I disclosesuoli an apparatus in my pending patent application Serial Number335,926 filed January 6, 1964 for a Stacking Apparatus of which this isa continuation-impart, now Patent No. 3,212,774. This example receivesarticles from a printing press at a high rate of speed. It is commonpractice to operate my stacker at lineal speeds in excess of 60() feetper minute :as long las the belt speed of the stacker is faster than theweb speed of the printing press. For example, small articles measuring 2inches long and 31/2 inches wide can be stacked at the rate of 30 sheetsper second.

Another object is to provide an attachment which may be applied toalmost lany type of apparatus which receives articles of this type froman automatic machine at a high rate of speed.

In another embodiment of my invention I provide means for discarding4undesired articles which might be undesirable at the entrance of theapparatus. Hence still another object is to provide a means forselectively discarding articles entering the apparatus.

Yet another object of my improvement is to provide means for applyingproper tension to the conveyor belts which advance the articles to Ibestacked.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had byreferring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view showing my invention attached to a stackingapparatus;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal side view of the structure shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a right end (as viewed in FIGURES 1 and 2) elevation of thestructure;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a similar to FIGURE 4 except that it shows a massed group ofarticles entering the apparatus of my invention;

FIGURE 6 is similar to FIGURE 4 except that the massed group of articleshas been advanced from the position shown in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 shows another embodiment of my invention; and

FIGURE 8 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on line 8-3 of FIGURE2.

With reference to the drawings the invention is illustrated as beingincorporated in a stacker indicated by the numeral 1t). As illustratedthe stacker comprises a main 3,266,799 Patented August 16, 1966 icesupporting frame 11 composed of longitudinal side members 12 connectedby cross bars 13. The frame 11 is secured by any suitable means to atelescoping pedestal 14 comprising la base plate (not shown) a hollowstandard 14b and a vertical member 14C sliding within the hollowstandard 14h and held at any desired height by the clamp 15 whichenables the stacker 10 to be adjusted to the correct height to receivearticles 31 as for example a battery of labels 40 mounted on la backingsheet 41 from a printing press not shown.

A continuous conveyor belt 17 is supported at the receiving end 13 by aroller 20 journaled in the sides 12 of the frame 11 and supported at thestacking end 19 by a roller 21 journalled in slide plates 70 asdescribed in more detail later. The upper reach A of the 'belt 17spanning the distance between the rollers 20 and 21 is supported by faninter-mediate roller 22 also journaled in opposite side members 12 of`frame 11. The rst section B of upper reach A between roller 2t) andintermediate roller 22 receives the articles 31 from the printing pressat a high rate of speed and advances them with partial assistance .froma second belt 24 later described to the second section C of reach Abetween intermediate roller 22 and roller 21 at the stacking end 19which second section C serves as a bottom for the stack pile 23. A crossbar 13 extending between the two sides 12 may be mounted against thelower surface of second section B to provide additional support for thestack pile 23 if desired.

As shown most clearly in FIGURES 1 and 2 roller 21 iat the stacking end19 is journaled in an adjustable end frame 70 slidably mounted on frameside members 12 to enable the tension on the gang of belts 17 to beadjusted. This slidable feature may be accomplished by any suitablemeans but I prefer to provide a slot 71b in each side member 70C offrame 71) to receive bolts 71a threaded into frame side members 12respectively.

Also referring especially to FIGURES 1 and 2 as means for tensioningeach individual belt, I provide a series of bell cranks 72 adjusta'blymounted on a transverse rod 73 Isecured between the frame 70 sidemembers 70e. Each bell crank '72 is provided with a roller 74 engagingthe lower reach of belt 17. By swinging the bell crank 72 on rod 73 thecorrect tension is deter-mined and the `bell crank 72 is locked inposition by thumb screw 75.

A back stop fname 29 is movably mounted on the sides 12 of frame 11 andsecured by clamping means subsequently described in detail, to arrestvby means of a depending abutment 82 at a desired position the advanceof articles 31 reposing in the second section C of the conveyor belt 17.

Another continuous belt 24 is mounted between rollers 25 and 26 in amovable fname 38 superimposed on main frame 11 so that the lower reachof this Ibelt 24 engages articles 31 reposing on the first section B oflower belt 17, and also may engage the surface of rst section B whenupper and lower belts are adjusted for thin articles. The function ofthe movable fname 38 will be explained in detail subsequently.

In describing my invention I have referred to a single lower and asingle upper belt for convenience but in the preferred embodiment I usea plurality of belts and in the case of the yupper belt I use roundbelts having the necessary elasticity to maintain a taut belt condition.

I p-rovide grooves 25a in roller l25 to receive belt 24 of sufficientdepth such that the surface of the roller will contact the top surfaceof articles 31 entering the stacker and the top of the belt will be on aline with the -top of the roller. By referring to FIGURE 3 it will benoted that there is a greater line of contact between the upper surfaceof roller 25 and article 31 than between the sum total of the belts 24and article 31. This is necessary in order to provide a substantial andextended line of gripping contact to insure that the leading edge ofarticle 31 will always be normal to the line of travel of the article31. If the gripping depended on belts alone the points of belt contactas compared to the line contact of the roller there would be a tendencyAfor the articles to skew particularly in the case of wide articles orarticles which were short in length (as measured along the line oftravel).

Movable upper frame 38 comprises a pair of longitudinal frame members 39aligned with main frame side members 1|2 the former being maintained inspaced relationship by cross members 42 and 43. Rollers 25 and 26 arejournalled in longitudinal frame members 39 of frame 38 at the receivingand stacking ends respectively of movable frame 38. Roller 25 isprovided with a gear 27 which meshes with gear 28 on lower roller 20 andis driven thereby so that the lineal speed of both belts is the same. Ialso provided a space on the roller shafts so that one of the gears maybe disengaged 'from the other by sliding along the shaft. This featureis provided as a safety precaution in case of long articles beingstacked so that when the printing press which is delivering to thestacker is stopped for any reason and the article has not been cut offthe upper roller will not turn on the freshly printed upper surface ofthe article and damage it. Since the articles -31 passing through thestacker are long the belts will subsequently grip the articles 3-1 andcarry them along by means of the force of the lower belt 17 which willstill be driven. Roller 20 is driven through belt 17 from roller 21 androller 21 is in turn connected by motor belt 76 to motor 77. Although Ihave described my preferred form, any suitable means may be used todrive either roller 20 or 21.

The gear teeth on gears 27 and 218 are of such design, as for exampleinvolute teeth, that the gears may be separated for a limited distanceand still operate together to drive the respective rolls.

Movable iframe 38 is connected to frame 11 by means of a pair of links44, one on each side which turn on link pins 46 and 47 secured in themovable frame 38 and frame l11 respectively. Since the links 44 eachhave a at surface engaging a corresponding flat surface on the movableframe 38 and yframe 11 respectively the movable frame 318 is alwaysaligned with the frame 11 as it moves away from and to frame 1.1.

A tension biasing spring 48 connects lthe `frame 38 on each side thereofto the frame y11 and urges frame 38 against frame 11 yet being resilientperm-its frame 38 to rise above frame 1i1 when an accumulation ofarticles 31 pile up between the belts 17 and 24.

The links 44 are mounted in an oblique manner relative to the upper edge12a of the longitudinal side member -12 of frame 11 to permit themovable frame 38 to be raised in three different positions: position Ias shown in FIG- URE 4 in which the movable frame 38 is parallel to theupper edge .12a of longitudinal side member 12; position II as shown inFIGURE 5 in which the receiving or entering portion of the frame 38 israised in oblique relation to edge 12a; and position III as shown inFIGURE 6 in which the frame 38 is raised in oblique relation to edge 12aat its stacking end.

Referring now to FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 it will be noted that roller 26(mounted in the stacking end of movable frame 38) causes a portion ofthe upper reach B of belt 17 to be deilected below the top ofintermediate roller 22 forming a sort of ramp or slope 33` to permit anarticle 31 reposing on the reach B to enter the stack pile 23 underneaththe bottom of the stack pile 23, thus making it possible to form ast-ack from the bottom up which is the primary novelty of my pendingpatent application previously referred to.

In another embodiment of my invention as shown in FIGURES l, 2 and 7 Ifu-rther provide a detlector mechanism for discarding certain articleswhich the operator of the stacker may observe to be defective. Thiscomprises a yoke shaped member 49 as viewed in FIGURE l iixed on `ashaft 50 journaled in opposite sides 12. A crank 52 is xed to shaft `50to cause, when depressed, yoke member 49 with its deflecting edge 51thereof to move into the path of approaching article 31 and direct itdownward and away (now see FIGURE 7).

A control box 54 mounts a counting register 55 and two switches forstarting and stopping the stacker 10 and the register 55 respectively.The counting register may be actuated by any suitable means. In mypreferred cmbodiment I mechanically contact the moving articles and thiscontact in turn electronically actuates the counting register.

As the stack pile 23 builds up guide posts 62 and 63 adjacent thecorners of the stack pile 23 maintain the edges in even alignment and apair of hold down weights 68 and 69 movable on vertical guide posts 66and 67 respectively keep the stack pile 23 rm as will now be describedin more detail.

A horizontal transverse rod 58 mounted on back stop frame 29 carries apair of transversely adjustable arms 60 which are locked in the desiredposition by thumb screws 64.

In a like manner transverse rod 61 is mounted on cross member 43 o-fmovable frame 38 and carries a pair of transversely adjustable arms 61and are also provided with thumb screws 65 for looking the arms 61 whenin adjusted position. Similarly guide posts 63 rise from the arms 61respectively to engage the edges of the stack pile 23 as it builds up.The Iguide posts 66 and 67 are tapered at the bottom to provide anenlarged cross sectional area as a mouth or lead-in area to guide therising stack of articles in stack pile 23 when they eventually becomeproperly centered.

A vertical post 66 mounted intermediate the sides of the stacker on backstop 29 and engaging the leading edge of the stack pile 23 carries aslidable hold-down weight `68 resting on the top of the stack pile 23 toinsure a compact pile as it builds up.

Opposite the vertical post and mounted in frame 38 and engaging thetrailing edge of the stack pile 23 is a similar vertical post 67carrying a hold-down weight 69 similar to hold-down weight 68.

Referring now to FIGURE 8 the preferred clamping means for holdingbackstop 29 fixed in its desired location comprises a pair of oppositelongitudinal channels 78 in the sides 12 of frame 11 into which theopposite ends 79a of clamping bar 79 are received. The top surface ofthese ends 79a engage the under side of the top of channels 78. The topof the backstop 80 is provided with two downwardly depending thumbscrews 81 which are threaded into clamping bar 79 and by tightening thethumb screws 81 the clamping bar ends 79a are firmly held against thetop under surface of channel 78.

In the operation of my stacker articles are delivered from a source ofsupply such as a printing press in this case presumably at a high rateof speed to the opening between the upper roll 25 and the upper surfaceof belt 17 that is to say reach B. The lower surface of upper belt 24engages the top surface of the articles 31 and holds them against thereach B and the articles 31 advance to and enter the stack pile 23 onthe ramp 33, as shown diagrammatical-ly in FIGURE 4.

Now in case several articles should accumulate or pile up on top of eachother probably due to the high speed or for some other reason arrive atthe roll 2S, the increased thickness of the piled up articles 31 causesthe movable frame 38 to rise at the receiving edge and permit theaccumulation to enter and be engaged by both belts as shown clearly inFIGURE 5.

As the accumulation advances the frame 38 rises to a position parallelto the bottom frame 11 (not shown) and as the accumulation advances thestacking end of movable frame 38 rises and the receiving edge drops backinto normal position under the tension of springs 48 as clearly shown inFIGURE 6. However should a second accumulation follow immediately theframe 38 will not drop back but will remain parallel to the bottom frame11 (again not shown).

When the accumul-ation reaches the ramp 33 it is tucked en masse underthe lowest article and under the urge of both belts the articles 3'1become properly aligned in the stack pile 23.

It will be obvious that if the upper belt was mounted in a frame whichwas not permited to move a jam would take place stopping the feeding ofarticles 31 to the stack pile 23.

When the operator of the stacker observes a defective article as forexample when a printing press is stopped or started causing a defectiveprinting, the defective article can be discarded by operating the handle53 to raise the deiiecter edge into the path of the oncoming stream ofarticles 31 entering the stacker 10.

Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with yacertain degree of particularity, it is understood that the presentdisclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of exampleand that numerous changes in the details of construction and thecombination of parts may be resorted to without departing from thespirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

I cl-aim as my invention:

1. In an apparatus for stacking articles a supporting first frame havinga receiving end and a stacking end, a belt supporting first rollermounted on said first frame at said receiving end, -a second beltsupporting roller mounted on said first frame at said stacking end, aconveyor belt mounted on and extending between said first and secondrollers having an upper continuous reach therebetween supported by anintermediate roller, said reach having a first section between saidfirst roller and said intermediate roller for receiving and advancingsuch articles, said reach having a second section between saidintermediate roller and said second roller forming the bottom side of astack, a vertically movable frame disposed on said first frame abovesaid first section having a receiving end and a delivery end, a thirdbelt supporting roller mounted on said movable frame at said receivingend thereof aligned with said first roller, a fourth belt supportingroller mounted on said movable frame at said delivery end thereof, aconveyor second belt mounted on and extending between said third andfourth rollers and having -a lower portion thereof comprising a secondreach adjacent said first section to engage such articles reposing onsaid first section, said fourth roller so located relative to saidintermediate roller that a portion of said second reach adjacent theretoexerts sufficient force against such articles reposing on said firstsection as they approach said intermediate roller to deflect a portionof said first section so that such approaching articles are directed toenter said stack between said second section and the lowermost arrestedarticle in said stack, means for arresting the advance of such articleson said second section, means connecting said frames to permit limitedvertical movement of said movable frame relative to said first frame toenable a piled up plurality of such articles to enter on said firstsection and continue their advance to said stack and means driving saidbelts at the same lineal speed.

2. In the apparatus of claim 1 a belt receiving recess in the surface ofsaid third roller corresponding substantially to the width and thicknessof said second belt such that said surface will engage such enteringarticle with sufficient pressure distributed to insure its correctalign. ment for subsequent advance, and said second belt mounted in saidrecess.

3. In an apparatus for stacking articles a supporting first frame havinga receiving end and a stacking end,

Cil

a belt supporting first roller mounted on said first frame at saidreceiving end, -a belt supporting second roller mounted on said firstframe at said stacking end, a conveyor lbelt mounted on and extendingbetween said first and second rollers having an upper continuous reachtherebetween supported by an intermediate roller, said reach having afirst section between said first roller and said intermediate roller forreceiving and advancing such articles, said reach having a secondsection between said second roller and said intermediate roller formingthe bottom side of a stack reposing thereon, a vertically movable framedisposed on said first frame above said first section having a receivingend and a delivery end, a third roller mounted on said movable frame atthe said receiving end thereof and aligned with said first roller, afourth roller mounted on said movable frame at said delivery endthereof, a conveyor second belt supported by and extending between saidfourth and third rollers Iand having a lower portion thereof comprisinga second reach to engage such articles reposing on said first section,said fourth roller so located relative to said intermediate roller thata portion of said second reach adjacent thereto exerts sufficient forceagainst such articles reposing on said first section as they approachsaid intermediate roller to deflect a portion of said first sectionforming a ramp so that such approaching articles are directed to entersaid stack between said second section and the lowermost article in saidstack, each of a pair of meshing driving gears mounted on said first andthird rollers respectively for driving said rollers one by the other sothat the lineal speed of both belts is the same, means connecting saidframes to permit limited vertical movement of said movable framerelative said `first frame to enable a piled up quantity of articles toenter on said first section between said first and third rollers, andcontinue their advance to said stack, and means for driving one of saidbelts.

4. In the apparatus of claim 3 one of said gears disengageable from theother said gear to discontinue when so desired the driving of said thirdroller by said first roller when a driving force is applied to saidfirst roller.

5. In the apparatus of claim 3 means for connecting said movable frameto said first frame comprising each member of a pair of parallel linkmembers connecting said first and movable frames respectively andlocated on the opposite sides of said frames.

6. In the apparatus of claim 1 said first frame comprising a pair ofspaced longitudinal side members a third frame mounted on said membersat the staking end thereof to slide longitudinal thereon to vary thetension of said first belt, said second roller journaled in said thirdframe and means connecting said third frame and said first frame tosecure said third frame in the proper adjusted position to maintain saiddesired tension.

7. In the apparatus of claim 6 said third frame comprising a pair ofparallel spaced longitudinal side members engaging said longitudinalsides of said first frame respectively, a transverse member mountedbetween said third frame longitudinal members parallel to the ax-is ofand adjacent to said second roller, a swinging arm mounted at one endthereof on said transverse member and at the other end provided with abelt tensioning roller, said tensioning roller engaging said conveyorbelt to `apply thereto the desired tension in said conveyor belt andmeans on said arm to secure said arm in the adjusted position tomaintain said desired tension.

8. In the apparatus of claim 1 said first frame comprising a pair ofspaced longitudinal side members. a back stop frame extending betweensaid logitudinal side Imembers and slidable thereon, a transverse guidemember mounted on said back stop frame in a plane parallel to that ofsaid second section, a pair of rearwardly extending arms adjustablyslidable on said guide member each carrying a vertical guide postextending below and above said arm for engaging opposite lateral edgesof such articles forming said stack, said guide posts tapering down to apoint below said arms in order to include any rising such articles whichmight stray off the center line of said stack and means for securingsaid arms to said guide member at the desired position.

9. In the apparatus of claim 8 a transverse guide member mounted on saidmovable frame adjacent said stack position in a plane parallel to thatof said second section, a pair of forwardly extending arms adjustablyslidable on said guide member each carrying a vertical guide postextending below and above said arm for engaging opposite lateral edgesof such articles forming said stack said guide posts tapering down to apoint from said arm in order to include any rising such articles whichmight stray off the longitudinal center line of said stack and means forsecuring said arms to said guide member at the desired position.

10. In the apparatus of claim 1 said first frame comprising a pair ofspaced longitudinal side members, a transverse shaft journaled in saidlongitudinal side members spaced from said receiving end, a yoke memberdisposed at said receiving end having a pair of parallel side armsextending to said shaft and fixed thereon, the portion of said yokemember between said side arms and in front of said receiving endcomprising a deflecting edge adjacent and parallel to the parting linebetween said first and third rollers, a crank mounted on said shaft formoving said yoke so that said deflecting edge is positioned in or out ofthe normal path of such articles entering said apparatus so that sucharticles may be discarded when said deflecting edge is positioned insaid path.

11. In a conveyor belt mechanism for feeding articles engaged betweenadjacent companion reaches of a pair of belts the improvement inmounting one of said belts relative to the other said improvementcomprising a rst frame mounting a first belt and a second frame mountinga second belt, said frames connected together so that said belts mayengage an art-icle when reposing therebetween, said connectioncomprising a single pair of opposite parallel link members having eachend thereof pivotally connected to the sides of said frame respectively,the said pivotal connections to said first frames being spacedlongitudinally of sa-id frames from the said pivotal connections to saidsecond frame whereby said link members assume an oblique position to theparting line between said frames when said frames are in a generallynonseparated position, said connection allowing separation of saidframes at a first end without necessarily effecting separation of saidframes at the other end when an article is engaged between said reachesadjacent said first end, and yieldable biasing means to urge said framestoward each other.

12. In the apparatus of claim 11 the location of said respective pivotalconnections and the length of said link members being such that whenseparation of said frames is causedby an article reposing between saidreaches adjacent a first end thereof the direction of movement at saidfirst end of said first frame relative to said second frame has acomponent parallel to and a component normal to the general plane of theparting line between said frames.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,133,727 10/1938Staude 271-76 2,314,605 3/1943 Arnold 226--172 X 2,983,417 5/1961Swanson 226-177 M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner.

W. F. MCCA-RTHY, A. N. KNOWLES,

Assistant Examiners.

11. IN A CONVEYOR BELT MECHANISM FOR FEEDING ARTICLES ENGAGED BETWEENADJACENT COMPANION REACHES OF A PAIR OF BELTS THE IMPROVEMENT INMOUNTING ONE OF SAID BELTS RELATIVE TO THE OTHER SAID IMPROVEMENTCOMPRISING A FIRST FRAME MOUNTING A FIRST BELT AND A SECOND FRAMEMOUNTING A SECOND BELT, SAID FRAMES CONNECTED TOGETHER SO THAT SAIDBELTS MAY ENGAGE AN ARTICLE WHEN RESPOSING THEREBETWEEN, SAID CONNECTIONCOMPRISING A SINGLE PAIR OF OPPOSITE PARALLEL LINK MEMBERS HAVING EACHEND THEREOF PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE SIDES OF SAID FRAME RESPECTIVELY,THE SAID PIVOTAL CONNECTIONS TO SAID FIRST FRAMES BEING SPACEDLONGITUDINALLY OF SAID FRAMES FROM THE SAID PIVOTAL CONNECTIONS TO SAIDSECOND FRAME WHEREBY SAID LINK MEMBERS ASSUME ON OBLIQUE POSITION TO THEPARTING LINE BETWEEN SAID FRAMES WHEN SAID FRAMES ARE IN A GENERALLYNONSEPARATED POSITION, SAID CONNECTION ALLOWING SEPARATION OF SAIDFRAMES AT A FIRST END WITHOUT NECESSARILY EFFECTING SEPARATION OF SAIDFRAMES AT THE OTHER END WHEN AN ARTICLE IS ENGAGED BETWEEN SAID REACHESADJACENT SAID FIRST END, AND YIELDABLE BIASING MEANS TO URGE SAID FRAMESTOWARD EACH OTHER.